Power take-off extended shaft

ABSTRACT

An extended shaft for connecting a standard, transmission mounted power take-off device to an auxiliary device which permits non-interference mounting configurations of the auxiliary device to the power take-off device. The extended shaft further provides mounting bracketry to prevent stresses when thermal expansion or contraction of relevant parts occurs during the operation of the motor vehicle or power take-off device.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a Continuation-in-Part of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 09/435,819, filed Nov. 8, 1999, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,263,749,the entirety of which is hereby incorporated by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to an extended shaft for connecting a standard,transmission mounted power take-off device to an auxiliary device, whichpermits non-interference mounting configurations of the auxiliary deviceto a power take-off device. The invention further provides mountingbracketry to prevent stresses when thermal expansion or contraction ofrelevant parts occurs during the operation of the motor vehicle or powertake-off device.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Power take-off devices are ubiquitously employed throughout the truckingindustry to power auxiliary devices. For example, power take-off devicesare often used to provide power to hydraulic pumps which in turn providehydraulic fluid to cylinders which perform auxiliary operationsassociated with the vehicle (e.g. raise and lower a dump bed, operate agarbage compactor and the like).

In certain situations, power take-off devices are not employed. Rather,the hydraulic pump (or other auxiliary device) is directly driven by thecrankshaft of the vehicle's engine. More specifically, a driveshaftassembly is employed to connect the input shaft of the hydraulic pump tothe crank shaft of the engine, thereby providing power to the hydraulicpump as the engine is operated. This type of arrangement generallyrequires that the hydraulic pump be placed at the front end of thevehicle. This creates one or a combination of problems. For example,when mounted in this front location, the front bumper of the vehicleoftentimes must be extended to accommodate the usually large pumps.Further, the radiators in such equipped vehicles frequently need to becored or relocated to accommodate the mounting position of the hydraulicpump, a practice which may soon be prohibited by a new EnvironmentalProtection Agency emissions law taking effect in the year 2002. Inparticular, this can result in restricted or reduced airflow to theradiator.

Other problems arise in equipping motor vehicles with hydraulic pumpsbecause certain hydraulic pumps are of such a design that it is notpossible to directly mount them to a standard power take-off device. Forexample, hydraulic pumps used in certain applications must be so largeor heavy as to frustrate the plausibility of directly mounting them to astandard power take-off device because to do so would impart too muchstress on the mounting areas. In other instances the large size of thehydraulic pump prohibits it from fitting into the envelope (space) thatwould otherwise be conveniently available for its use.

In view of the above, it is apparent that there exists a need in the artfor an extended shaft capable of operably coupling to both a powertake-off device and to an auxiliary device which overcomes the abovedrawbacks. It is a purpose of this invention to fulfill this need in theart, as well as other needs which will become apparent to the skilledartisan once given the following disclosure.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Generally speaking, this invention fulfills the above described needs inthe art by providing: in the combination of an engine which operates awork performing mechanism remotely located from the engine wherein thecombination includes a transmission operatively connected to the engineand to the work performing mechanism by a power takeoff device connectedto the transmission and having a housing and an output shaft connectableto the work performing mechanism for operating the mechanism in a workperforming mode, the improvement wherein the combination furtherincludes an extension mechanism for remotely mounting the workperforming mechanism a preselected spaced distance from the powertakeoff device, the extension mechanism comprising a housing extendingacross the preselected spaced distance and being connected to thetransmission and to the housing of the power takeoff device and furtherincluding a shaft located and internally rotatably supported via sealed,lubricated bearings within the housing and extending across thepreselected spaced distance from the power takeoff device to the workperforming mechanism and being connected at a first end to the outputshaft of the power takeoff device and at a second end to the workperforming mechanism, whereby when the power takeoff device isoperatively connected to the transmission and the engine is operating soas to be operatively engaged with the transmission, the combinationoperates the work performing mechanism.

IN THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side view of an embodiment of an extended shaft according tothis invention, shown mounted to a transmission and coupled to a powertake-off device and hydraulic pump, with certain parts illustrated inx-ray.

FIG. 1A is a side view of an alternative embodiment of the inventionillustrated in FIG. 1.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the extended shaft according FIG. 1 with thepower take-off device and hydraulic pump removed for sake of clarity.

FIG. 3 is an x-ray view of one embodiment of the hydraulic pump andtransmission mounting bracketry according to the subject invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF CERTAIN EMBODIMENTS

Referring initially to FIGS. 1 & 2, there is illustrated an extendedshaft indicated at 100 as one exemplar embodiment according to thesubject invention. Generally speaking, the extended shaft 100 includes asupport tube 1 for enclosing a drive shaft 5, an auxiliary devicemounting adapter 9 (attached to support tube flange 3), and a powertake-off mounting bracket 6, each for mounting the extended shaft 100 tothe hydraulic pump 105 and the power take-off device 107 respectively.

More specifically, drive shaft 5 is rotatably supported proximal thecenter of the inner tubular structure of support tube 1 by bearings 13.Bearings 13, as standard, non-sealed shaft bearings, are locatedproximal each longitudinal end of support tube 1. They serve tosimultaneously support and permit the rotation of drive shaft 5 withinthe confines of the support tube 1.

Drive shaft 5 is preferably a solid, one piece shaft. In an alternativeembodiment, drive shaft 5 may be multiple shafts whose ends abut and arejoined by a collar or sleeve. In order to reduce friction as the driveshaft 5 is operated, support tube 1 is filled with a conventionallubricant such as oil or any other suitable lubricant known in the art.The lubricant is conveniently added to support tube 1 via fill port 23located in the wall 24 of support tube 1. Shaft seals 27 serve to sealthe tubular structure and prevent leakage of lubricant therefrom, suchseals 27 being located proximal mounting bracket 6 and mounting adapter9 at each end of support tube 1.

In order to allow for the expansion and contraction of gases withinextended shaft 100 during operation and thereby to protect the integrityof shaft seals 27 (by preventing pressure build-up), breather 25 isincluded and is located in tubular wall 24. Breather 25 may be aconventional breather of known construction which permits passage of airin and out of support tube 1.

In an alternative embodiment, illustrated in FIG. 1A, sealed bearings13′ may be employed in place of non-sealed bearings 13. Such bearings13′ are pre-greased within their sealed structure and therefore do notrequire that support tube 1 be filled with additional lubricant. Forthis reason, embodiments utilizing such permanently lubricated bearings13′ do not require that fill port 23, shaft seals 27, or breather 25 beemployed.

Referring now to FIGS. 1, but in particular to FIG. 3 as well, extendedshaft 100 is mounted to transmission 103 through a series of bracketryassembled through support tube mounting bracket 15 and support tubeflange 3 which includes cap screws 17 and spacer sleeves 19. Supporttube flange 3 is welded to support tube 1, but may alternatively be anextension of wall 24 of support tube 1. Support tube mounting bracket 15is fixedly attached to transmission 103 via bolts but may be attached byany other suitable means known in the art. Support tube mounting bracket15 and support tube flange 3 each provide apertures of sufficientdiameter for receipt of the shafts of cap screws 17. The apertures ofsupport tube flange 3 are of further sufficient diameter so as to becapable of receiving spacer sleeves 19 through which cap screws 17 areto be inserted. As assembled, the apertures of support tube flange 3 arein receipt of spacer sleeves 19 which abut the planar surfaces ofsupport tube mounting bracket 15 at the outside peripheries of itsapertures. Cap screws 17 are disposed through spacer sleeves 19 (whichare disposed through the apertures of the support tube flange 3) andthrough the apertures of support tube mounting bracket 15 where they areimmovably secured.

Referring again to FIG. 1A, an alternative embodiment of extended shaft100 employs bracketry similar to that described above but mounted in aslightly modified configuration. In particular, support tube mountingbracket 15 is now mounted on the opposite side of support tube flange 3as compared to the configuration of bracket 15 and flange 3 illustratedin FIG. 1. More specifically, mounting bracket 15 is now mounted on theside of flange 3 which is nearest to hydraulic pump 105. As may furtherbe seen, flange 3, in this embodiment, is integral to (i.e. is cast aspart of) support tube 1 rather than provided as a separate part.

In each of the above arrangements, the mounting bracketry, according tothe subject invention, will allow for the thermal expansion of thematerials. For example, as the system heats up or cools down during orafter operation, and the various parts, often of different materials,expand or contract, support tube flange 3 is capable of moving orsliding along spacer sleeves 19 in the directions as indicated by thearrows “A” in FIG. 3. Specifically, this sliding movement allows fordifferences in length changes in both the (housing of) transmission 103and extended shaft 100, substantially reducing the amount of stressimparted on the system during and after its operation. This feature isparticularly useful when the materials constituting the system havesubstantially different coefficients of thermal expansion. For example,in conventional practice, the walls of the transmission 103 housing aremade of aluminum or an aluminum alloy, whereas the walls of support tube1 are made of low-carbon steel. In such an arrangement, the coefficientof thermal expansion differs between the two materials by a factor ofroughly 2. Therefore, the rates of expansion and contraction of thesematerials at a given temperature differ significantly.

Certain embodiments, such as illustrated in FIG. 1A, may, of course,employ a support tube 1′ which is constructed from the same material(s)as the housing of the transmission 103. In such an embodiment, thecoefficients of thermal expansion of the transmission 103 housing andsupport tube 1′ are the same or nearly the same. However, duringoperation of power take-off device 107 and transmission 103, the housingof the transmission and support tube 1′ will be heated to differenttemperatures. Therefore, thermal expansion and contraction of each willstill be inconsistent with respect to each other, and the mountingbracketry of the subject invention will thus still serve an importantpurpose.

Referring again now to FIG. 1, the mounting arrangement of support tube1 to hydraulic pump 105 is therein illustrated. Specifically, anauxiliary device mounting adapter 9 is provided which couples supporttube flange 3 to the hydraulic pump 105. Support tube flange 3 andauxiliary device mounting adapter 9 both include apertures for receiptof cap screw 10. As assembled, cap screw 10 is inserted through each ofthe apertures of auxiliary device mounting adapter 9 and support tubeflange 3, thereby securing support tube 1 to auxiliary device mountingadapter 9. Hydraulic pump 105 is, of course, mounted to auxiliary devicemounting adapter 9 through a similar or other arrangement, effectivelyconnecting support tube 1 to hydraulic pump 105. In this arrangement,the output end 21 of drive shaft 5 is in functional communication withthe hydraulic pump 105 in a manner known and conventional in the art.

It is understood, of course, that in an alternative embodiment, anysuitable form of driven device may be attached or driven at this outputend 21 of the drive shaft 5. For example, a pulley may be connected tosupply power to other auxiliary devices that are typically driven byother means (ie. front crankshaft, auxiliary engine, etc.) and which aretoo large to mount in the envelope (space) otherwise provided.

As further illustrated in FIGS. 1 & 2, extended shaft 100 is mounted topower take-off device 107 via power take-off mounting bracket 6 which iswelded to support tube 1 and contains apertures for receipt of cap screw8. Optionally, power take-off mounting bracket 6 may be a flange typestructure extending perpendicular from support tube 1. Power take-offmounting adapter 7, as standard to power take-off device 107, isprovided for mounting power take-off device 107 to power take-offmounting bracket 6 and also contains apertures for receipt of cap screw8.

When assembled, the apertures of power take-off mounting bracket 6 andpower take-off mounting adapter 7 are in alignment with cap screw 8disposed immovably through each. In this arrangement, cap screw 8secures power take-off mounting bracket 6 to power take-off mountingadapter 7, which is further securely connected to power take-off device107. This effectively secures support tube 1 to power take-off device107. In this secured or attached position, drive shaft 5, which has asplined shaft end 11, is in communication with a shaft (not shown forsake of clarity) of power take-off device 107 at its splined end. Thisconnection or intercommunication between splined shaft end 11 and ashaft of power take-off device 107, allows power take-off device 107 totransmit power through drive shaft 5 to hydraulic pump 105.

In an alternative embodiment, extended shaft 100 may be mounted to powertake-off device 107 with bracketry similar to that which mounts supporttube 1 to transmission 103. In this embodiment, spacer sleeves areincluded for receipt of cap screw 8. In this arrangement, slip movementof power take-off mounting bracket 6 is possible along these spacersleeves to allow for thermal expansion or contraction of the relevantparts during the heating and cooling of the materials in the system orsimply to accommodate for other stresses experienced during use.

Once given the above disclosure, many other features, modifications, andimprovements will become apparent to the skilled artisan. Such otherfeatures modifications, and improvements are therefore considered to bepart of this invention, the scope of which is to be determined by thefollowing claims:

I claim:
 1. In the combination of an engine which operates a work performing mechanism remotely located from said engine wherein said combination includes a transmission operatively connected to said engine and to said work performing mechanism by a power takeoff device connected to said transmission and having a housing and an output shaft connectable to said work performing mechanism for operating said mechanism in a work performing mode, the improvement wherein said combination further includes an extension mechanism for remotely mounting said work performing mechanism a preselected spaced distance from said power takeoff device, said extension mechanism comprising a housing extending across said preselected spaced distance and being connected to said transmission and to said housing of said power takeoff device and further including a shaft located and internally rotatably supported via sealed, lubricated bearings within said housing and extending across said preselected spaced distance from said power takeoff device to said work performing mechanism and being connected at a first end to said output shaft of said power takeoff device and at a second end to said work performing mechanism, whereby when said power takeoff device is operatively connected to said transmission and said engine is operating so as to be operatively engaged with said transmission, said combination operates said work performing mechanism.
 2. The combination of claim 1 wherein the coefficient of expansion of a housing of said transmission differs from the coefficient of expansion of said housing of said extension mechanism by a factor of less than
 2. 3. The combination of claim 2 wherein said housing of said extension mechanism and said housing of said transmission are constructed of an alloy of the same type.
 4. The combination of claim 1 wherein said extension mechanism is connected to said transmission via a combination of bracketry, said combination of bracketry comprising: a transmission mounting bracket, said transmission mounting bracket including a bracket aperture having a first diameter; a housing flange located proximal the length of a surface of said housing of said extension mechanism; said housing flange including a housing flange aperture having a second diameter; a spacer sleeve disposed through said housing flange aperture and abutting a surface of said transmission mounting bracket; and a fastener inserted through said spacer sleeve and fixedly connected at said bracket aperture; wherein said combination of bracketry provides support to said extension mechanism and permits movement of said housing flange with respect to said transmission mounting bracket.
 5. The combination of claim 1 wherein said housing of said extension mechanism includes a housing flange located proximal the length of a surface of said housing of said extension mechanism; and wherein said transmission includes a transmission housing having a transmission mounting bracket fixed thereon; and further including a combination of bracketry for connecting said housing flange to said transmission mounting bracket, wherein said combination of bracketry is so arranged in a manner to connect said housing flange to said transmission mounting bracket such that said combination of bracketry permits movement of said housing flange with respect to said transmission mounting bracket.
 6. The combination of claim 1 wherein said extension mechanism is connected to said transmission via a combination of bracketry, said combination of bracketry comprising: a transmission mounting bracket, said transmission mounting bracket including a bracket aperture having a first diameter; a housing flange located proximal the length of a surface of said housing; said housing flange including a housing flange aperture having a second diameter; a spacer sleeve disposed through said bracket aperture and abutting a surface of said housing flange; and a fastener inserted through said spacer sleeve and fixedly connected at said housing flange aperture; wherein said combination of bracketry provides support to said extension mechanism and permits movement of said housing flange with respect to said transmission mounting bracket. 